Rib Cartilage Revision Rhinoplasty
The definitive revision — rebuilding failed noses with rib cartilage when previous surgeries have exhausted other materials
Overview
Severely failed noses — contracted, collapsed, or operated on multiple times — usually lack usable septal or ear cartilage. Rib cartilage revision supplies what these cases need: abundant, strong, autologous material to rebuild the entire framework from the foundation up.
This is the most demanding category of rhinoplasty, and DU's approach reflects it: full 3D CT mapping, autologous or donor rib depending on the patient, and a SafeCore reconstruction designed so the nose never collapses again. For many patients, this is the surgery that finally ends years of revision cycles.
Why Rib Cartilage Revision Rhinoplasty at DU
- Abundant strong material for total framework reconstruction
- Releases and lengthens contracted, upturned noses effectively
- Autologous or donor rib options per patient preference
- Structural rebuild philosophy — designed to be the final surgery
Recommended for
- Contracted (shortened, upturned) noses after multiple surgeries
- Collapsed bridges or tips lacking structural support
- Depleted septal and ear cartilage from previous operations
- Implant complications requiring removal and full rebuild
Your journey with DU
Send photos and your goals via WhatsApp — we reply with Dr. Oh's assessment.
On arrival, CT imaging and a one-on-one design consultation with Dr. Oh.
Performed personally by Dr. Oh with anesthesia monitoring throughout.
Dedicated recovery rooms, day-7 and day-14 follow-ups scheduled around your stay.
Remote follow-up on WhatsApp after you fly home.
Rib Cartilage Revision Rhinoplasty — FAQ
Why rib cartilage instead of another implant?
After multiple failures, the problem is usually structural. An implant sits on a broken frame; rib cartilage rebuilds the frame itself with living tissue that cannot be rejected.
How much longer is this surgery?
2–3 hours for the nose plus about an hour for harvest — longer than a first-time rhinoplasty, reflecting the reconstruction involved.
What is the recovery like?
Nasal recovery mirrors standard rhinoplasty (stitches day 7 and 14); the chest harvest site is tender for about a week.
Can a contracted nose really be lengthened?
Yes — scar release plus a rib-cartilage septal extension is the established solution for contracture, restoring both length and rotation.
Your last surgery, done right the first time
English consultation · 3D CT diagnosis · 1 minute from Yeoksam Station, Gangnam.